Engine oil conditioner and method of continuously reconditioning lubricating oil



Dec. 5, 1967 1 ROBINSON ET Al- ENGINE OIL CONDITIONER AND METHOD OFCONTINUOUSLY l RECONDITIONING LUBRICATING OIL Filed July '7, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 1 lll Ila

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ENGINE OIL CONDITLONER AND METHOD OF CONTINUOUSLY RECONDITIONINGLUBRICATING OIL Filed July '7, 1964 y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. LutherRobinson Edgar G. Roland THE /R ATTORNE YS' Dec. 5, 1967 ROBlNSON ET AL3,356,182

ENGINE OIL CONDITIONERv AND METHOD OF CONTINUOUSLY RECONDITIONINGLUBRICATING @IL Filed July '7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet T INVENTORS. LutherRobinson BY Edgar G. Roland THE/R ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1967 1 ROBlNSON ETAL 3,356,182

. ENGNE OIL CONDITLONER AND METHOD 0F CONTINUOUSIJY RECONDITIONINGLUBRICATING OIL Filed July '7, i964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Lul/1er RobinsonEdgar 6. Roland www, n@ mt fw THE/? A TTOHNEYS F 5 v INVENTORS.

United States Patent CONTINU OUSLY RECONDITIONIN G LUBRICAT- ING OILLuther Robinson, 509 Bellaire Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.

15226, and Ed'gar G. Roland, Box 383, Grand Ave., Mars, Pa. 16046 FiledJuly 7, 1964, Ser. No. 380,871 24 Claims. (Cl. 184-6) This inventionrelates to procedure and apparatus for conditioning or reconditioninglubricating oil during the operation of a combustion engine andparticularly, for continuously maintaining crankcase oil in goodcondition for lubricating the engine.

A phase of the invention relates to procedure and apparatus foreliminating sludge formation in the lubricating system of an engine andfor eliminating the need for making oil changes.

The present-day trend has been toward the provision of better qualityoils, of better engine wearing surfaces, and of improved oil lters inorder to permit a longer period of oil usage before it has to bechanged. However, we have determined that these approaches do not fullymeet the problem and that excessive engine wear may occur where fullreliance is placed upon them. In the first place, sulfur is present atleast in minimum amounts in lubricating oil of a petroleum, mineral, orhydrocarbon type. It is present in varying amounts in crude oil and mayalso be introduced during the refining process. Some engineers are ofthe opinion that when sulfur is present in its elemental form itimproved the lubricating properties of the oil; however, moisturecondensation, oxygen and gasoline are introduced into the crankcase oilof an engine, due to the heating and cooling of the motor when not inoperation, due to the use of an atmospheric-open oil filler and breathertube, and due to leakage from the combustion chambers during theoperation of the pistons.

The moisture which is formed by condensation and moisture which isintroduced along with oxygen through the oil filler tube of the enginetend to cause the elemental sulfur in the oil to, during the operationof the engine, change into a more complex or acid form. The acid form iscorrosive of the Wear parts of the engine, tends to lower thelubricating properties of the oil, and, importantly, tends to cause. theformation of a gummy sludge which may contain acid, some sulfurtrioxide, etc. This sludge quickly fills the pores of the oil filterwhich causes the oil to merely -by-pass the filter, making itineffective for removing dirt impurities. An oil filter used for anordinary internal combustion engine will, after a few thousand miles,collect a heavy coating of sticky sludge, thus necessitating its changeif the engine is to be protected.

In endeavoring to find a solution to the problem involved, we found thatthe proper approach was to effectively condition or recondition the oilduring its usage and that if this is properly done, sludge formationwill be eliminated, making the oil filter continuously effective andmaintaining the oil at its top lubricating eiciency. We have been ableto carry out such lan approach by continuously taking-off or bleedingoil from the engine during its operation and continuously andprogressively conditioning the oil as thus taken-ofi, and thencontinuously returning it to the crankcase of the engine. This is donewith a by-pass system in such a manner that the 4acid content of the oilis, in effect, neutralized, and contaminating volatiles, includingmoisture rand gasoline as well as sulfur and carbon oxides, areprogressively taken-off from and removed from theY oil before it isreturned to the engine. Employing this apice proach, we have found thatoil in hard usage forvtens Cil of thousands of miles in |an automobileis effectively as good in its lubricating qualities as the original oil,and that the oil filter when removed is free of sludge deposits, so thatit may effectively collect bits of metal, dirt, and other solidcontaminants that might otherwise damage the engine.

Briefly, in accordance with our invention, the oil is conditioned duringits usage by subjecting it progressively Iand effectively to continuoustreatment in a relatively simple apparatus in which it is flowed as afilm over a heated surface and in contact with a metal catalyst in sucha manner that the catalyst yacts to neutralize the acid or convert theacid content into an innocuous content and particularly, one which canbe volatilized-off. At the same time, heating is effected during theflow of the oil as a film over the heated surface so las to driveoffmoisture, gasoline, and carbon and sulfur oxides into the atmosphere.This is accomplished in such a manner that the volatiles are drawn-offunder negative pressure into the vacuum system of the engine where theycan be mixed with the gasoline in the carburetor and discharged asexhaust. The treated or conditioned oil flows back into the crankcasewithout in any way adversely effecting the normal operation of theengine, since our by-pass system in no way is connected with movingparts of the engine.

It has thus been an object of our invention to devise a solution to theproblem of lubricating oil contamination vin an engine and in asimplified and practical manner without disturbing the normal operatingefiiciency of the engine;

Another object of our invention has been to eliminate the formation ofsludge in a lubricating system and particularly, to eliminate thecollection and clogging of the oil filter with sludge; I

A further object of our invention has been to provide a procedure andapparatus which need only operate during the operation of the engine andwill incorporate the normal components of the engine without requiring aspecial electrical or filtering system;

A further object of our invention has been to devise a sludgeeliminating and oil conditioning system for an internal combustionengine which will be fully safe and foolproof in its operation and whichwill utilizev any suitable source of electrical current, such asprovided by the generator of 4an ordinary ignition system of an internallcombustion engine, without producing any adverse drain on the storagebattery;

A still further object of our invention has been to devise a systemwhich will lbe fully safe in its operation, without danger of firehazards;

These and other objects of our invention will appear to those skilled inthe art from the illustrated embodiments, the description thereof, andthe -appended claims.

In the drawings: y

FIGURE l is an exploded vertical view showing the construction of an oilconditioning device devised in accordance with our invention, andparticularly from the standpoint of interfitting parts which may beemployed in its construction;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical view in elev-ation on the scale of FIGURE 1showing the parts of the construction assembled and in a position readyfor use;

FIGURE 3 is a full size side section in elevation through one part ofthe device of FIGURE 2, namely, a heater compartment part or container,showing details of its construction;

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to and on the scale of FIG- URE 3 but showingthe construction of a treating coinpartment part or container of thedevice of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the heater compartment part of FIGURE 3on a three-quarter scale as to such figure; this view shows a heatingelement assembly positioned on a bottom insulating pad with an outer padshown in FIGURE 6 removed,

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal section on the scale of FIG- URE 5 and takenalong the line VI--VI of FIGURE 3 showing the bottom half of thecontainer construction of FIGURES 3 and 5;

FIGURE 7 illustrates a suitable electric circuit diagram for heatingelements or unit of the container part of FIG- URES 3, 5 land 6;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the treating container part of FIGURE 2showing its attendant fluid inlet-outlet and mounting connections;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view on the scale of FIGURES 5 and 6 of a topenclosure of panel part of the construction of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged vertical fragmental section taken along lineX-X of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a bottom plan View on the scale of FIGURE 8 showing detailsof the consrtuction of a metal catalyst bar or member used in thecontainer part of FIGURE S;

FIGURE l2 is a fragmental view in elevation showing the mountedrelationship of the metal bar of FIGURE 11 on the scale of such figureand with respect to a heated grid, liow plate or back wall member of thecontainer part of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 12A is a broken fragmental view on the scale of FIGURE 12,showing a modified spacing means for the metal bar;

FIGURE 13 is a vertical sectional view in elevation of a scaleintermediate between the scale of FIGURES 2 and 3 showing a modifiedconstruction of a heater container part;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged sectional fragment in elevation showing thedetails of the mounting assembly of the construction of FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in elevation illustrating atypical mounting of the device of our invention with respect to themotor of an automobile, beneath its hood.

With references to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, we have illustratedan oil conditioning device 10 embodying our invention which is made upor employs container or can parts 11 and 25 and a face plate or frontclosure part 40. The three parts have interfitting or complementaryperipheral tongue and groove flanges for facilitating their assembly ina sealed-off relation and for permitting their disassembly. FIGURE 1shows the parts in an eX- ploded relationship and FIGURE 2 shows them ina fully assembled unitary relationship. Although any suitable means,such as metal screws, may be employed for securing them together, wehave shown br-azing spots w in FIGURE 2 by way of illustration as to thecontainer parts 11 and 25, and have utilized a friction fit between thefront closure part 40 and the container part 25.

FIGURE 15 somewhat diagrammatically illustrates how the device 10 may bemounted above the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine of anautomobile, underneath its hood. In this connection, the unit 10 has atransverse pipe member 31 which is threaded at its opposite ends (seeFIGURE 8), so that one end 31a may be used for mounting it to projecthorizontally from a conventional oil filler and air breathing pipe 46 ofan engine 45 of a car or truck, such as manufactured by Ford orChrysler. The other threaded end 31h may be used for mounting it on theoil filler and breathing pipe of General Motors cars. The oppositethreaded end which is not thus mounted is provided with aninternally-threaded closure fitting or cap 32 to close it off (seeFIGURE 15).

The connecting and mounting pipe 31 is shown mounted below aconventional removable filler cap 47 by sidetapping the tube 46 andbrazing or welding in an inter- 4 nally-threaded fitting 59. It will benoted that the cap 47 has air breathing openings so that the tube 46 is,in effect, always at atmospheric pressure. The device 1G of ourinvention may, however, be connected at its oil delivery end to anysuitable crankcase opening.

Contaminated oil from the engine 45 is fed or bledoff from its crankcaseby metal tubing 49 which passes centrally-upwardly through the pipe 31along an inlet tube 30 into a threating chamber B provided by the part25 of the device 10. The tubing 49 is connected by a Screw coupler part34 to a male fitting part 33 within which the lower end of the inlettube 30 is secured, kas by brazing metal w (see FIGURE 4). As shown inFIG- URES 4 and 8, the fitting part 33 has an enlarged threaded endportion 33a for screwing it in position within a threaded,centrally-located opening in the pipe 31, has a wrench flat 33h, and hasla smaller threaded end portion 33e for securing it against pressuresealing sleeve 49a within a threaded end portion of the coupler 34. Itwill be noted that screw coupler part 37 is of similar construction tothe coupler part 34 and that negative pressure fitting part 36 issimilar in construction to the fitting part 33. Negative or vacuumpressure is applied to a top vacuum chamber C of the container part 25which has a threaded male fitting 36 that is connected by a screwcoupler 37 and metal tubing 39 to the vacuum system of the engine ordirectly to their air intake of its carburetor 48. Although the pipeconnection 31 serves as a secure main mounting for the unit 16, theparts 33, 34 and 36, 37 provide supplemental mounting in the sense ofsecuring the device to the motor in such a manner that it does notvibrate independently thereof. It will be noted that an adaptor fitting5t) (see FIGURE 15) is constructed for securing, as by brazing metal w,to the filler tube 46. It thus serves as a secure mounting for the pipe31 and the unit 10. We also contemplate employing U 0r L- shapedbrackets (not shown) that may be mounted on the engine block and securedor clamped over the fitting parts 33 and 36 to provide further stabilityto the unit or device 10, when desirable.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, of the drawings, thecontainer 11 represents a bottom or back container of the device whosehousing defines a heating chamber A. The housing of the front or outercontainer 25 (see FIGURES 4 and 8) defines an oil treating chamber B andwith a bafiie or partition member 27 further defines vacuum chamber C.The cross-extending pipe 31 which is connected through an open centraloutlet orifice 2SC to the treating chamber B thus defines a collectingand return chamber D for conditioned oil and, in view of itsratmospheric type of connection, serves as a pressureequalizing chamberfrom the standpoint of the vacuum chamber C and with respect to thetreating chamber B.

The container or can 11, as shown particularly in FIG- URES 3, 5, and 6,is adapted to receive a heating unit assembly which is made up of agroup, shown as two pairs of electric heating elements 20, 20 and 21,21'. Each heating unit or element, as shown particularly in FIGURE 5,has a resistance wire or filament a that is adapted to be illuminatedwhen electric current is applied thereto. An enclosing envelope b,preferably of glass or a transparent resin is employed to hermeticallyseal-ofi the heating element a from the atmosphere and to thus enablethe evacuation of air so as to greatly increase the operating life ofthe heating filament or resistance a. The envelope b is secured andsealed within a metal sleeve c to which one end of the resistance a isconnected and, at its back end, is closed-off by a resin seal d whichcentrally supports a metal base contact or tip e to which the other sideof the resistance a is connected.

We have found that the heating elements can be provided inexpensivelyand satisfactorily by the use of c onventional electric light bulbs,such as used in lighting the dash and other accessories of an automobileor truck. Employing four elements in a twelve volt system, each unit 6relement may have a rating of about 20 to 25 watts for a 12 volt sourceof current. Although the heating elements may be electrically energizedby connection in series or parallel to any suitable source, as throughthe ignition switch of an automobile, we prefer to connect pairs ofelements, such as 20 and 20', in series with each other, to connect theother pair of elements 21 and 21 in series with each other, and toconnect the two groups or pairs of heating elements in parallel with thesource (see FIG- URE 7), such as between a ground Iconnection of thevehicle and the positive side of a generator or alternator 52 of anautomobile engine 45 or through its voltage regulator 51 (see FIGURE15). This provides the beneficial effect of lowering the voltage appliedto each individual heating element in half to greatly increase theoperating life of the elements. For example, if the engine employs atwelve volt electrical system, each heating element will have six voltsimpressed individually thereon; if it ernploys a six volt system, theneach element will have three volts impressed thereon.

The illustrated circuit diagram has a further advantage that it enablesus to employ only two viewing lenses or Windows 12 in the container 11for indicating if either one of the heating elements of each pair hasburned out. For example, if the element 21 is burned out, then theelement 21 will not illuminate, and if the element 20 is burned out,then the element 20 will not illuminate. In this way, we providesufficient voltage for the required heating temperature of the deviceand at the same time, provide the heating elements with a relativelyunlimited effective period of operating life.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 5 and 7, one lead or wire connection22 may be grounded to the automobile frame Iby soldering it to thecasing 11. It will be noted that this connection 22 is secured by soldermetal s to the base contacts e of one heating element of each pair,shown as 20' and 21. The so-called hot or positive side of the source,such as of the generator 52 or battery is connected through a wire lead23 from ignition switch, passes through a side opening 11C in thecontainer 11, as protected by an insulating bezel or sleeve 13, and iselectrically-connected, as by solder metal s, to the end lug terminals eof the other heating elements 20 and 21' of the two pairs. The pairs ofheating elements are electrically-connected together and secured in aradially-spaced apart relation with each other by anelectrically-conductive, strap metal pieces 24 and 24' which are securedat their ends, as by solder metal s, to the metal sleeves c.

A bottom pad 17 of a suitable nonflammable insulating material orfabric, such as fiberglass (see FIGURES 3 and 5) is positioned tosupport the heating element assembly on one side thereof, and a secondor outer or upper pad 18 (see also FIGURE 6) supports the heatingassemlblyfrom its opposite side. As shown particularly in FIG- URES 3and 6, the upper pad 18 has open portions or holes 18a therein toreceive the envelope b of each electrical heating element. An oppositepair of the open portions 1811 have end-projecting sight passageways oropenings 18b extending therefrom in alignment with side openings 11d incircular side wall 11b of the container 11. Each opening 11d has a clearor transparent glass or resin lens or Window member 12 secured therein,so that the il lumination of the heating element or-unit positioned inthe opposite hole may be viewed from outside the device 10. As shown inFIGURE 6, each lens 12 has an inner peripheral flange portion 12a; aclip portion 11j projects from the side wall 11b to extend over theflange 12a and hold the lens in position Within the opening 11d.

The containers 11 and 25 as well as the front closure part 40 may be ofsheet metal construction, such as of tin or tin-coated carbon steel orlightweight stainless steel. The back or heating element housing part orcontainer part or can 11 is provided with a back or bottom closure wall11a, a circular side wall 11b, a channeled back rim or connecting flange11e, and a front tongue and groove- 6 shaped or channeled, encircling,peripheral front flange or rim wall portion 11e. In a like manner, themain or treating chamber container part or can 25 (see FIGURE 4) isprovided with a flow plate, back oil-heating wall or grid member 25a ofplate-like construction which serves as a partition member betweenheating chamber A and treating chamber B, is shown smooth on its inneror flow surface, is of a good heat-conducting nature, and prefera'blyhas an inner fiow face that is reflective. It will be noted that theheating elements 20, 20 and 21, 21 are adapted to abut or rest in a heattransferring relation against the back face or side of the plate orpartition member 25a between the two containers 11 and 25 (see FIGURE3). The container 25 is shown provided with a circular side wall 25band, like the container 11, with a front peripheral or encirclinginwardly-projecting tongue and groove or channel-shaped iiange portion25e. The back wall 25a has, adjacent its outer periphery, achannel-shaped or tongue and groove type of peripheral flange connection25e to the side wall 25a which provides a complementary interfitting fitwith the flange 11e ofthe container part 11.

The front closure part 40, as shown particularly in FIGURES 1, 9 and 10,has a tongue and groove or channel-shaped outer flange portion 40e andan inwardlyprojecting, substantially flat, peripheral fiange or rimportion 40a. The portion 40e is adapted to form a complementary interftwith the flange portion 25'e of the container 25 (see FIGURE 4). Theportion 40a serves as a mounting for a transparent glass or resin faceplate or window member 41 which is shown of circular construction. Asillustrated particularly in FIGURE 9, the face plate 41 enables theoperator to View the iiow and treatment of the oil within the treatmentchamber B of the container part 25. It may be secured in a protected andinsulated relation to the underside of the flange portion 40a by a layerof sealing cement `43:. Both the flange portion 40a and the face platemember 41 may have complementary openings therethrough to receive rivets42.

In FIGURES 13 and 14, we have disclosed a modified containerconstruction 11 wherein its side wall 11'b is open at its back end, anda cup-shaped back closure member 15 is employed instead of the integrallback wall 11a. Side portions of the closure `member 15 areremovablysecured to the side wall ilb as by metal screws 16. Thispermits easy access to the interior of the container 11.

As shown particularly in FIGURE l5, the container 25 is adapted to bemounted in a vertically-backwardly tilted position from its top portionwhich, as an optimum, is about 45 with respect to the horizon-tal, butmay have a slope within a range of about 40 to 75. It also has a slighttilt towards the side or end of the transverse pipe member 31 which isconnected to the oil filler tube 46, so as to provide a gravity returnflow of conditioned or treated oil back to the crankcase of the engine45. The upper-backward or vertical tilt of the device 10' controls therate of ow of a film of oil over the front or flow face of the platemember 25a.

A metal baille 27 of angle-shape (see FIGURES 4 and 8) of somewhatflexible strap-like metal material is shown positioned Within the upperportion of the chamber B to separate the treating chamber B from thevacuum chamber C. It will be noted that the apex of the baffle 27 issubstantially in line with the apex or extreme top end of the container25. Since the bottom edge of the Abaffle 27 rests tightly upon the faceof the plate 25a, it serves as a segregating partition between the twochambers to keep the oil out of the vacuum chamber. The bafile 27 alsohas a pair of downwardly and forwardly slit tabs 27a, adjacent itsopposite end portions, to define two air circulating passageways betweenthe two chambers so as to pass vapors from the treating chamber B intothe vacuum chamber C and to equalize pressure in the treating chamber Bas between the negative pressure of the vacuum chamber C and thepositive atmospheric pressure of the collecting chamber D.

A metal cathode bar or member 26 of angle-shape is positioned to extendacross the chamber B and to project through openings provided by endtabs 27b of the baffle 27. VIt will be noted that the bar 26 ispositioned with its end portions extending downwardly from itscentrallylocated apex. The end tabs 27b serve to hold the cathode bar 26along its length in position on the face of the heating plate member a.The oil inlet tube 30 of suitable metal, such as copper, is adapted toextend through the pipe 31 and outlet opening 25e in the bottom of thecontainer 25. The connector 33 has a smaller threaded end 33C forreceiving internal threading 49a of a mounting sleeve or collar 34 ofthe tubing 49 which may be connected to the pressure pump in thecrankcase of an automobile. Thus, contaminated oil may be continuouslybled or taken-off from the crankcase of the engine 45 as a pressure flowthrough the tubing 49 and the inlet tube 30.

By way of example, the tube may have a diameter along its main lengthportion of about 1/16 or .0625 of an inch. However, it is provided witha restricted flow passage at 30a. The portion 30a may be lformed byfirst inserting a wire in the tube of the desired diameter and crimpingor flattening the tube thereon. This provides a small flow controlpassageway to `limit the fiow of oil to an amount which can be fullyconditioned within the device. This restricted opening may have adiameter of about .020 of an inch to provide a liow rate of about onegallon of oil for about eight minutes of operation.

The upper end of the inlet tube 30 is positioned to deliver the oil intothe upper portion lof the chamber B above the cathode 'bar 26, below andagainst the bafiie member 27. If desired a fiat spray end or nozzle 30bmay be provided. The desired type of oil delivery is substantially equalfrom the standpoint of both vertical halves of the chamber B. The bafiie26 serves to confine the oil to the treating chamber and to spread itsubstantially over the full width of the face of the plate 25a. Tofurther assure the desired type of iiow, the cathode bar 26 has spacedportions with respect to the face of the heating plate mem-ber 25a, suchas provided by cross-slots 26a and the slight projection of their sideedges( shown in FIGURES 11 and 12 of the drawings), or as provided byspacer wire rings 26h of FIGURE 12A. If the rings 26b are used, one maybe positioned at the apex of the bar 26 and one maybe positionedadjacent each end thereof. These crosscuts 26a on the underside of thebar 26 have a slight raised relationship along their side edges, as byforming them by pressing-in the metal of the bar. Another way ofproviding this same spacing is to employ central and end cross ribs onthe underside of the member 26. Such spacing as an optimum should beabout .023 of an inch, but may be within a range of about .020` to .026of an inch.

Since the contaminated oil being introduced in the treating chamber Bfalls upon the cathode bar 26 and flows thereunder through the spacingbetween it and the plate member 25a, this provides a thin film of heatedoil which follows downwardly substantially uniformly over the entirewidth of the surface -of the plate member 25a, as may be witnessed byinspection through the front face plate `or window 41. In this manner,the oil is fully subjected to a neutralizing reaction as to its acidcontent by the cathode bar 26 and to the heating effect of the platemember 25a, so that if the engine is operating at a normal temperatureof about 180 for a gasoline engine, the oil will be additionally heatedabout 70 to 120. That is, the oil being treated has a temperature duringits downward fiow from the cathode bar 26 within a range of about 250 to3007 F.

The treated or conditioned oil liows out through the outlet opening 25e`and the pipe 31 to return to the crankcase of the engine, as through itsfiller tube, such as 46 0f FIGURE 15. A pair of upwardly-projectingpressure equalizing pipes or tubes and 35 extend along opposite sides ofthe container part 25, and their lower ends are open to adjacent endportions of the pipe 31. The

tubes are shown sealed-off and secured to the container 25 and the pipe31, by brazing metal w. The tubes 35, 35' may have an inside diameter ofabout V16 or .1875 of an inch. When the threaded end portion 31a is, asshown in FIGURE 15, connected to the filler tube 46 of the engine, thenthe tube 35 functions as the pressure equalizing tube. On the otherhand, when the opposite threaded end 31b is secured to the oil fillertube of the engine, the tube 35 serves as the pressure equalizing tube.Thus, there is no danger of oil being drawn into the vacuum chamber Cand drawn ofl in the vacuum tubing I39 of the system if the vacuumshould become excessive.

The tubes or pipes 35 and 35' are shown mounted in tight abutment withthe front side of the bar 26 and thus serve to hold it securely inposition within the treating chamber B. Since the tubes 35 and 35 andthe pipe 31 are connected to the crankcase of the engine, they alsoserve to conduct vapors or moisture from the crankcase (as a counterfiowto the return of the reconditioned oil) into the treating chamber B,where they are removed along with vapors produced by the heating plate25a.

Although other suitable catalytic materials may be suitable for thepurpose of our invention, we have found that a bar of magnesium metal,such as sold commercially by Dow Chemical Corporation of Lyndhurst, NJ.,and designated as AZ-61A is highly satisfactory. As previouslyindicated, it serves generally as a catalyzer for the acid content ofthe oil which may be in the form of sulfuric acid (H2504) or sulfurousacid (H2803) or both, and which may contain some crystals of sulfurtrioxide (S03). The bar 26 functions as a true catalyst which furtherschemical breakdown reactions of the acid content of the heatedcontaminated oil film and, as such, has an indefinite period ofoperative life, since it does not, itself, enter into the reactions. Inthis connection, it will be noted that the acids present in thecontaminated oil are of a diluted, as distinguished from a concentratedtype. This catalyst enables the acid sludge forming content of the oilto be neutralized by converting its acid content into water and sulfurdioxide gas which are, in turn, vaporized out of the oil in the chamberB along with carbon dioxide gas, moisture and gasoline. The vacuum ornegative pressure provided by the chamber C is sufficient to draw-offthese volatiles, as by conducting them to the vacuum system of the.automobile where they may be discharged, for example, through thecarburetor to the exhaust. Thus, the oil which reaches the bottom end ofthe plate 25a is fully purified or treated ready for reuse.

Since the device 10 only operates during the operation of the engine andits electrical heating elements are energized, as by turning theignition switch, it is apparent that it is economical and uses energygenerated by the generator only during the operation of the vehicle. Itprogressively and lcontinuously conditions and reconditions the oilduring its use. By this method, we remove the sludge making constituentsor contaminants in the oil so as to always maintain it in good workingor lubricating condition. Sulfur which, as previously pointed out, maybe contained in the oil as supplied or may be introduced during theoperation of the engine, combines with water of condensation and oxygen,and particularly under the pressure circulation through the crankcase tocreate an emulsion which will, later turn into a sludge. Using thedevice of our invention, the emulsion never turns into a sludge, in thatthe contaminants which produce it and which lower the lubricating valueof the oil are continuously eliminated before they can be converted intoa sludge. This not only results in a substantially unlimited period ofeffective utilization of a given cranlccase filling of oil, but givesthe oil filter a useful and effective life that extends into thousandsof miles. The filter need only be replaced periodically, for example,after 20,000 or 30,000 miles by reason of dirt accumulations, asdistinguished from oil sludge accumulations which normally astiaisaccumulate within a couple thousand miles depending upon the conditionof the motor and the dust content from road operation. The oil filternow will fully effectively remove grit, dirt, small pieces of metal,etc., that would otherwise damage the engine if the filter was 'bypassedby reason of sludge accumulated therein. Our device also serves as aprotection to the-engine if water leaks into the crankcase due to adefective gasket, since the water is vaporized-off and does not remainin the oil, giving the false impression that the crankcase is filledwith an operating content of oil.

We also contemplate using a suitable adaptor or connector, such as 46,that may be of previously formed unitary or one-piece construction withthe fitting 50 to facilitate the mounting of our device without the needto later braze-on the fitting. The connector or adaptor may thus befurnished with the device for ready mounting. It will be of a typesuitable for the particular use, for example, it may be constructed forconnection in the crankcase return line of a diesel engine. In FIGUREl5, We have shown the cap 32 provided with an endwiseprojecting threadedstud for use with ,an engine-mounted bracket, if further mountingstability is required for the device 10.

Although for the purpose of illustration, we have described ourinvention as applied to an internal combustion engine, such as agasoline engine of the type used for motor vehicles, it will be apparentthat it 4may also be employed with diesel and other types of engines,whether for vehicular or stationary utilizations. The source of currentfor heating the device can be a conventional ignition or glow tubesupply source or any other suitable supply source. Also, although wehaveillustrated exemplary constructions embodying the principles of ourinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and changes .and adaptations may be made in accordancewith the principles thereof without departing from its spirit and scopeas indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A method of continuously reconditioning lubricating oil that iscontaminated by usage in an internal cornbustion engine during theoper-ation of the engine which comprises, providing a treating chamberhaving a side wall defined by a metal plate member, providing a vacuumchamber above the treating chamber, continuously taking off contaminatedoil from the engine during its operation and introducing it into thetreating chamber, flowing all the contaminated oil upon andprogressively spreading it in the form of a thin -film transversely andsubstantially uniformly on a front face of an upper por.- tion of theplate member, continuously flowing the oil -film downwardly along thewidth of the plate member in a sloped vertical plane that defines anvangular relation of about 40 to 75 to the horizontal; applyingsufficient heat from the plate member to heat the downwardly flowing oilfilm to and maintain it at a minimum temperature of 250 F. and fullyvaporize contaminants therein that are more volatile than thelubricating oil, while catalizing and neutralizing its acid content anddriving-off volatilized contaminants therefrom; maintaining asubstantial pressure equilibrium in the treating chamber, flowing thevolatilized contaminants into the vacuum chamber and withdrawing themtherefrom, vacuum oil in a fully reconditioned state from the oil filmadjacent a bottom portion of the plate member, and continuouslyreturning the collected reconditioned oil to the engine; all, whilecontrolling the fi-ow of contaminated oil into the treating chamber andthe temperature of the oil film during its movement downwardly along theplate member to fully and continuously recondition the oil being takenoff from the engine.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein, the fiow of theconta-niinated oil into the treating chamber is conl@ trolled by movingit into the treating chamber through restricted passageway upon thefront face of the plate member at an upper end portion thereof.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein pressure equalization isaccomplished in the treating chamber by applying positive atmosphericpressure to the treating chamber adjacent the vacuum chamber.

4. A method as defined in claim l wherein the volatilized contaminantsare withdrawn from the vacuum chamber by the 'application of negativepressure thereto.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the contaminated oil is floweddownwardly along the plate meinber at an upper portion of the treatingchamber through a plurality of restricted passageways and thereafter,las a continuous thin film downwardly along the plate member.

6. An oil reconditioning device for an internal combustion engine whichcomprises, a housing -defining an enclosed oil treating chamber, ahousing defining an enclosed heating chamber, a heat-transfer partitionmember between said chambers, means for mounting said chambers in avertically-sloped position with respect to the horizontal, electricheating element means positioned in said heating chamber in an effectiveheat-transfer relationship with respect to a back side of said partitionmember, means in said treating chamber for introducing contaminated oilfrom the engine to an upper end portion thereof, a bafiie adjacent theupper end portion of said treating chamber defining a vacuum chamberabove said treating chamber, at least one ow passageway from saidtreating to said vacuum chamber, means in said treating chamber forflowing the oil introduced thereto by said inlet means downwardly as afilm along said partition member and for neutralizing the acid contentthereof, said heating means supplying sufficient heat energy to saidpartition member to volatilize-off contaminants from the oil film owingdownwardly thereon, a vacuum inlet connection to said vacuum chamber fordrawing-off volatilized contaminants introduced through said flowpassageway from said treatment chamber, and a collecting means open to abottom end portion of said treating chamber for receiving reconditionedoil therefrom and having a gravity flow outlet for returning thereconditioned oil fro-iii said collecting chamber back to the engine.

7. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 6 wherein saidcollecting means and outlet comprise, a transverse pipe securely-mountedand connected centrally to said first-mentioned housing to receive thereconditioned oil by gravity flow therefrom and to flow thereconditioned oil by gravity flow to the engine, said transverse pipehas opposite open ends whereby either one of said ends may be connectedto the engine, and cap means is provided for closing-off the unconnectedopen end of said transverse pipe.

8. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 7 wherein, at leastone pressure equalizing tube is connected at its lower end to saidtransverse pipe and extends upwardly along said treating chamber toterminate in a downwardly-spaced relation with respect to said baffle toequalize pressure in said treating chamber in view of the negativepressure within said vacuum chamber, and said pressure equalizing tubeis connected to flow vapors from the engine into said treating chamber.

9. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 7 wherein said meansfor introducing contaminated oil from the engine is an inlet tube havinga restricted portion along its length defining an oil ow opening ofabout .020 of an inch in diameter.

10. An oil reconditionng device as defined in claim 7 wherein, viewingwindows are provided in the housing defining said heating chamber toindicate the operating condition of said heating means, a face platemeans is provided for closing-off a front portion of said treatingchamber, said face plate means and said housings have l 1 interttingfiange portions for assembling them in a cooperating relation as a unit,and said face plate means has a viewing window to indicate the flow ofoil over said partition member.

11. An oil reconditioning device as dened in claim 7 wherein, said meansfor flowing oil ias a film along said partition means comprises a metalcathode bar of angular shape positioned within said treating chamberwith the apex of its angle extending centrally-upwardly thereof and in adownwardly-spaced relation with said batlie, said means for introducingthe contaminated oil comprises an oil inlet tube projecting at its upperend into the spacing between said cathode bar and said bafiie tointroduce the oil into said treating chamber above said cathode bartowards said battle, said batile is constructed to sprea-d the oil thusintroduced over said partition member, means positions said cathode ybarin close adjacency with said partition `member in a spaced relationshiptherealong within a range of about .02() to .026 of an inch to tiow theoil from said inlet tube as a transversely spread-out film between saidcathode bar and said partition member and downwardly along saidpartition member, and at least one pressure equalizing tube is connectedat its lower end to said transverse pipe and projects upwardly alongsaid treating chamber and terminates at its upper end between saidcathode bar and said baiiie for equalizing pressure in said treatingchamber in view of the negative pressure in said vacuum chamber.

12. An oil reconditioning device as dened in claim 11 wherein, saidpressure equalizing tube abuts said cathode bar to hold it in positionwithin said treating chamber,

and said gravity flow outlet has means for rigidly-securing saidhousings on the engine.

13. An oil reconditioning device for a combustion engine whichcomprises, vertically extending housing means for the device, aheat-transfer partition member in said housing means dividing it into avertically extending heating chamber and a vertically extending oiltreating chamber, said partition member having a vertically-sloped owface for fiowing oil downwardly thereon within said treating chamber,heat generating means within said heating chamber in a cooperatingheat-applying relation with said partition member, said partition memberdefining an oil down ow face within said treating chamber, an oil inletextending within said treating chamber to project contaminated oil fromthe engine upon an upper portion of said flow face, transverselypositioned means within the upper portion of said treating chamber andextending across said flow face for transversely spreading the oilintroduced by said inlet tube ias an oil film thereon, said heatgenerating means being constructed and positioned to apply suiicientheat through said partition member to the oil lmduring its down flow onsaid fiow face to neutralize the acid content of and vaporize-offvolatile contaminants therefrom, and means for returning reconditionedoil from a lower portion of said treating chamber to the engine.

14. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 13 wherein, saidtransversely positioned means comprises a catalyst bar deining arestricted fiow spacing with said tiow face, and said oil inlet is opento said treating chamber above said bar to apply contaminated oil onsaid ow face for downward flow through the flow spacing towards thelower portion of said treating chambe-r.

15. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 13 wherein, saidmeans for returning the reconditioned oil to the engine is a pipe memberopen centrally to a lower portion of said treating chamber and mountedon and extending transversely of said housing, and'said pipe member hasopposite threaded ends for alternate connection to an oil filler tube ofthe engine for returning reconditioned oil thereto.

16. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 13 wherein, a bafieis positioned on said partition `member at the upper portion of saidtreating chamber above said transversely positioned means to provide anupper vacuum chamber Within :said housing, said bafiie member haspassageway means connected to said treating chamber, said bafflecooperates with said transversely-extending means for spreading the oilbeing introduced as an oil film over said ow face, and anatmospherically connected pressure equalizing tube extends within saidhousing and is open at its inner end to said treating chamber adjacentsaid baie for equalizing pressure in said treating chamber.

1'7. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 13 wherein saidheat generating means comprises at least one electric heating elementoperatively positioned in said heating chamber for applying heat energyto said partition member.

18. An oil reconditioning device for a combustion engine whichcomprises, an enclosed vertical mounting housing for the device, acentrally-extending plate-like partition member within said housing andhaving a front side providing an oil treating chamber within and alongsaid housing, said partition member having a back side providing a backheating chamber within and along said housing, batlie means extendingacross an upper portion of said front side and providing a vacuumchamber for drawing oi volatiles, said front side being adapted to bepositioned to slope vertically-downwardly and define an oil down fiowface therealong from said baflie means, transversely positioned meanswithin said treating chamber and extending across said front side in anadjacent and downwardly spaced relation with respect to said bafiiemeans to define a plurality of restricted down flow passageways withsaid front side, means for introducing contaminated oil from the engineinto an upper portion of said treating chamber upon said front sidebetween said baiiie means and said transversely positioned means, sai-dbafiie means and said transversely positioned means being adapted tospread contaminated oil being introduced into a thin wetting oil filmsubstantially uniformly along the full width of said front side fordownward tiow movement therealong, means in said heating chamber forapplying heat energy to said partition member for reacting andvaporizing contaminants in the oil film during its downward ow movementalong said front side to recondition the oil film, vapor flowpassageways between said treating and vacuum chambers for passingvaporized contaminants into 'said vacuum chamber, and means forcollecting reconditioned oil from a lower portion of said front side toreturn it to the engine.

19. A device as defined in claim 18 wherein said transversely positionedmeans is a metal catalyst bar having ofi'set portions therealong todefine said plurality of restricted down-flow passageways with saidfront side.

20. A device as defined in claim 18 wherein pressure equalizing meanshaving an atmospheric air inlet is positioned to extend along saidtreating chamber `and has an outlet to said treating chamber adjacentsaid transversely positioned means.

21. A `device as defined in claim 2t) wherein said means for introducingcontaminated oil from the engine comprises ia tube extending into andupwardly along said treating chamber and has an outlet positioned to iowthe oil between said transversely positioned -me-ans and said bafflemeans.

22. A -device as defined in claim 21 wherein said tube has an oil-fiowrestricting passageway and has means for spraying the contaminated oilinto said treating chamber.

23. A device as defined in claim 22 wherein said pressure equalizingmeans is a tube extending into and along said treating chamber.

24. A device as defined in claim 23 wherein, both of said tubes have -asubstantially parallel extending relation with each other, and means onsaid housing positions said oil introducing tube substantially centrallyof said front wise spaced relation with respect to said oil introducingtube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,821 11/1945 Braun 184-62,909,284 10/1959 Watkins 208--179 X 14 FOREIGN PATENTS 191,547 1/1923Great Britain. 269,148 2/ 1928 Great Britain. 292,300 6/1928' GreatBritain.

SAMUEL ROTHBERG, Primary Examiner.

E. I. EARLS, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEICE CERTIFICATE 0E CORRECTION Patent No.3,356,182' December 5, 1967 Luther Robinson et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 4, line 9, Vfor Hthreating'.' read v` treating line 27 for"their" read the column A9, line 65 for "vacuum" read collecting Signedand sealed this 7th day of January 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

6. AN OIL RECONDITIONING DEVICE FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WHICHCOMPRISES, A HOUSING DEFINING AN ENCLOSED OIL TREATING CHAMBER, AHOUSING DEFINING AN ENCLOSED HEATING CHAMBER, A HEAT-TRANSFER PARTITIONMEMBER BETWEEN SAID CHAMBERS, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID CHAMBERS IN AVERTICALLY-SLOPED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE HORIZONTAL, ELECTRICHEATING ELEMENT MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID HEATING CHAMBER IN AN EFFECTIVEHEAT-TRANSFER RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO A BACK SIDE OF SAID PARTITIONMEMBER, MEANS IN SAID TREATING CHAMBER FOR INTRODUCING CONTAMINATED OILFROM THE ENGINE TO AN UPPER END PORTION THEREOF, A BAFFLE ADJACENT THEUPPER END PORTION OF SAID TREATING CHAMBER DEFINING A VACUUM CHAMBERABOVE SAID TREATING CHAMBER, AT LEAST ONE FLOW PASSAGEWAY FROM SAIDTREATING TO SAID VACUUM CHAMBER, MEANS IN SAID TREATING CHAMBER FORFLOWING THE OIL INTRODUCED THERETO BY SAID INLET MEANS DOWNWARDLY AS AFILM ALONG SAID PARTITIION